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In December of 2019, I had the privilege of officiating my son’s wedding. Yami and I were gaining a new member to the family—Crystal—and my son Luke was beyond thrilled. We had so much fun that night. We ate, danced, and celebrated along with close family and friends.
During the ceremony, I fixed my attention on my new daughter-in-law and called out her name, “Crystal”. As I encouraged Crystal to follow God and determine to respect Luke through good times and bad times, in sickness and in health, I turned my attention to my son.
After a brief pause, I said, “Luke, I am your father!” And in case you are wondering—yes—everyone made the connection back to Star Wars and we all had a good laugh. I think it helped my son relax a bit more. It was such an emotional moment for everyone involved.
I challenged Luke to love Crystal as Christ loved the church and sacrificed His life for her benefit. I dared Luke to put her needs ahead of his needs in every area of his life. And I challenged Luke to remember the promise he was about to make to his new bride. It was much more than words; it was a commitment to God to protect and love his wife forever.
The place where the wedding was held—Coral Gables Women’s Club—was stunning to behold. It had beautiful wood ceilings, elegantly laced in varnished wood. The walls were a collection of large rocks, interconnected with one another. The scene was like a great castle on top of a mountain from the year 1600. It was an amazing place to celebrate.
In addition to the wedding ceremony and traditional activities, I reflect on the invited guests that were present that evening. Immediate family members and extended ones, long-time friends, neighbors, university friends, and church family all united to celebrate. All those invited had been an important part of the life of our family. Every relationship was unique and special.
Relationships are Special
Think for a moment about the people and the relationships formed throughout the course of your life. Every relationship serves to shape your life in one way or another. Most of our relationships are mutually beneficial. They serve to help one another improve, accomplish more things together, speed things up, overcome challenges or serve others in new ways.
If you stopped for a minute to reflect on current and past relationships, how would you respond to the following questions?
What relationships served to infuse greater confidence and hope for my future?
What people were responsible for helping me finish my education?
When I faced the most difficult moments of my life, who was present with me?
Who can I count on when I need to get honest feedback about my attitude and actions?
What people always tell me the truth in love?
What people always inspire me to do more and reach beyond my perceived limitations?
Developing healthy relationships is essential for your life to thrive!
Relationships Matter
Let’s add an eleventh component to the areas entrusted to us by God to protect, manage, and multiply for His eternal purposes and glory: relationships.
1. Treasures are the financial means entrusted to you by God to manage wisely for His purposes.
2. Time is the limited window of opportunity provided to work for the purposes of the owner—God.
3. Abilities are the God-given capacity and power to do something well.
4. Talents are extraordinary natural abilities given to you by God and originating from birth.
5. Skills are learned abilities developed and mastered over time.
6. Training matters. To achieve mastery, your disposition must be that of a student.
7. Personality is how God has wired you; it’s the invisible you made visible.
8. God’s Word is the will of God for your life. Everything you need to be an effective manager and live your life with purpose is written in the Bible.
9. Inner Life is the immaterial part of you—consisting of your daily spiritual relationship with Jesus. Your inner life is your spiritual life.
10. Spiritual fruit is the product an abiding life in Jesus Christ. It’s the internal and external evidence of spiritual alignment as you live in cooperation with the Holy Spirit.
11. Relationships are the special connections we form with others to share life together and add value to their lives. Relationships shape our lives in meaningful ways.
Relationships have to be prioritized and nurtured to remain healthy over time.
Marcel Sanchez, Imagine Coaching Academy Tweet
Today’s Challenge
Today’s challenge is quite simple. Express your gratitude for a relationship that has given your life more value. You can do this by sending a text, speaking with the person by phone. You can schedule a video call or maybe write them a short note. Relationships have to be prioritized and nurtured to remain healthy over time.
Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve thought about old friends or neighbors. Why not reach out to them and totally surprise them with your voice? Tell them just how much you’ve appreciated their presence in your life over the years.
Thank them for their unique contribution. Get caught up with what’s happening in their lives and make the most of your time together. Relationships are special connections. So, take one step today and make a difference.
Invest in Yourself
Looking for a flexible and self-directed way to grow as a leader and thrive in life?
That’s one of the main reasons I created Imagine Coaching Academy. Get professional coaching and online training courses to accelerate your soft skills, equip your teams, and grow your relationships.
Speaking of growing your relationships, click here to sign up for our complimentary online marriage training, “Build a Stronger Marriage—With Zero Drama—in 12-Weeks.”
Strengthen Others
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